We are powerless

Life can be overwhelming! Have you ever had times when you felt you were drowning in your woes? I sure have!
Years ago, the son of an older friend of mine disappeared off the face of the earth. He was living far from home and had been depressed. His roommate first alerted his parents that he was missing and all attempts they made to reach him were in vain. His father made the cross country trip to search for him, while his mother stayed home and prayed.
My friend, 15 years my senior, is a spiritual mentor of mine and a very strong woman. She always modeled the gentle and quiet spirit that the Word talks about in I Peter 3:4.
Yet, when I went to just sit with her to comfort, to pray and to just BE there, the look on her face was haunting; it was one of anguish and despair. It was my turn to be the strong one!
I told her, and I believed with all of my heart: yes, the situation looks hopeless. We are powerless to do anything! Yet God is in control. We can have hope because we know the Creator of the universe! He knows where your son is; he loves him more than you do.
As I was saying these words, it struck me: He is in control 24 X 7. We are ALWAYS helpless; there is NEVER any hope without Him. HE IS HOPE! We just THINK we are in control, that "we've got this covered".
The story has a happy ending. The son was found, all was well. He was given a good dose of TLC by his parents (as well as a talking to : don't you ever scare us like that again)...and has gone on to lead a happy and productive life.
I was reminded of this incident (which happened close to 20 years ago )when we studied King Jehoshaphat's prayer in 2 Chronicles 20 during Community Bible study this week. Enemies of the king had come to make war against him. Here is a part of his prayer in vs. 12, ".....we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."
Wow! What a powerful prayer. Jehoshaphat humbled himself (a king admitting he had no control!); he admitted he did not have all the answers. And most importantly, he was focused on the all powerful God.
I want to be like Jehoshaphat! May I always be humble; realize I don't have the answers, and keep my focus on Him.